India Loot

My parents just returned home from a couple of weeks in India. They didn't bring us any Dal or Delhi belly, but they did come bearing gifts this weekend.


They had beautiful dresses for each of the girls, along with bracelets and colorful beaded necklaces.



Even though my two older girls claim that they are not girly, something magical happened when they could hear the clink clink of those bracelets as they met each other at their wrists.



As soon as Nana and Papa and Uncle John left, they made their plans. A grand outdoor dance was to be had.

No, I did not let Kiera wear her wrinkle prone white dress outside for the performance. I didn't relish in the idea of having to wash and iron it before she leaves the house in it.



You can thank a recent viewing of Bride and Prejudice for this Bollywood style thank you to Nana and Papa for all their loot.

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Must have this for my girly girly third daughter.

First Ski Trip

We were so excited to take the girls on their first ski trip. We got to go to Fresno for the weekend and hang out non stop with the cousins. We had heart shaped waffles, went swimming in the hot tub, and played Guitar Hero world tour. So much fun. (mom, dad...we missed you in India).

When the forecast called for heavy snow we decided it would be better to leave poor gimpy knee Clay at home with the three littlest ones. We made the right decision. We got up the mountain early and found it snowing. And then it snowed some more. And more.

Kirsten and I got on the lift and by the time we got to the top, we had disappeared beneath a chilly white blanket. It was so cold that our lower faces froze. We had trouble speaking. Numb chins and all. Kind of like the hour just after you have a cavity filled. We enjoyed the beauty of natural Novocaine.

It was fun seeing my niece and nephew snowboard. They are really good. I loved that Noah was leading the way and telling us all where to go, and then ditching me for the blue runs. Yes, I stayed on the nice comfortable green runs, since it has been 22 years since my last ski trip.

After a bit of morning gear up drama, we dropped the kids off at their lessons. I had no idea how that would all go. They toughed it out and even went back for more torture in the afternoon. This time I stayed around a bit to video. It isn't thrilling, but you will get an idea of the mountain's conditions. I was thrilled that later, after warming up, that they had a lot of fun and would love to go skiing again. Success.



The drive home left us all with PTSD. We saw a lot of scary driving, some sliding and lots of crashes. There were some hairy moments, which included one Sienna rescue out of the snow bank by some friends of Kirsten and Corey. Prayers are answered!

I just hope that next time we go it is sunny and warmish. This is why I quit skiing at age 12. I really don't enjoy the cold. At all. I am such a California girl at heart.

I just checked the snow report for Monday at Sierra Summit and the grand total for the day was THREE FEET. Yeah, next time warm and sunny.

You would have to be an airhead not to be my Valentine

This is what I gave my baby. Clay is the best Valentine ever. It all started on V-day for us. 14 years baby.





Hope you have a day filled with love+chocolate.

She Won!

Seriously, it is good the be validated. My darling, adorable sister-in-law is a Hottie. The Memphis Flyer named her and 11 other Memphis area peeps Hotties.


photo by Melissa Anderson Sweazy

I have been saying this all along. Such a hottie.

If you want to read the interview point your browser here.

And I am totally getting my haircut like hers.

I won!

Last week my friend, Mandy was having a sweet little giveaway on her blog, so I entered. Just like I always enter those giveaways on Designmom that I never win. Thanks to Mandy, I am now a winner. Don't you love this darling headband? Mandy hand makes and sells headbands and clips, along with tons of other adorable thrilling headgear at Ruby's Clips.



Give me a kiss...







Could this be a more adorable combination? Thanks Mandy!

Lake Tahoe

Maren says that she is the only child in her whole school who has never been to Lake Tahoe. Can you believe the injustice of it all? So when Annie called last minute to invite us up for the weekend, we jumped at the chance. (even if we haven't slept in our own beds for the last three weekends). We weren't disappointed. It was beautiful, delightful and relaxing. Except for the part about being out of town for the weekend. Again.



I had a bad travel dream each night we were there. The first one involved telling my councilors at church that I was going out of town AGAIN, but I couldn't for the life of me remember where I was going.



The set of the second dream had me packing for a trip to Hawaii with Annie (I guess it was a two girls trip?). I looked in my closet, in the dryer and hamper but couldn't find any clothes or shoes to pack, and the final straw was not being able to find my camera. No one could really go to HAWAII without their camera, right! I was trying to figure out how I was going to buy a camera in the airport while Annie waited impatiently, reminding me that we had to get to the airport quickly so we could be early. 'C'mon Britt. It IS an international flight. We have to get there two hours before the flight'



An international flight...to HAWAII? Good thing it was just a three hour drive to Tahoe. Man, I gotta stay home. Maybe in March...

{Last} Black Rock trip

This trip was so bittersweet. Isn't it always when you know it is going to be the last?



Same old story. No fun at all. And terrible weather, too.

Busy weekend

What a fun weekend. A girl's trip into San Francisco. Too much giggling, eating and not quite enough sleep.



Back home for a busy Sunday, and then onto Fresno to see my little brother and his family. They are fixing to move to the frozen winterland (Rochester, MN) and this was our last chance to see them before they go. It was so nice to see their darling kids (and the grownups, too).







So good to see you, Jacob and Jayne.

Conversations

If your name is Maren Callaway, please do not read further as this story may only exacerbate your elevator phobia!

Every week after Ballet, Kiera and Sydney ask if they can ride the elevator down (one flight of stairs). I always make Kiera walk up them, but allow the ride down after a hard day's work at Ballet. As usual, Lisa and I both headed toward the elevator with our darling little ballerinas for the short ride down. One flight. This week we were joined by another mom and her two little girls.

After boarding, we pressed the "1" button. The door began to close and got about three quarters of the way over. Then we heard the sound of metal scraping and catching as the door pleaded with itself to 'go ahead a close already'. The sinister door couldn't quite make it all the way to the closed position. We tried the "OPEN DOOR" button. And then the "CLOSE DOOR" option also. Then we waited. And tried again. We decide it is time for the red "EMERGENCY" button.

We politely ring it. Wait. Nothing. Ring more insistently. Wait. Nothing. Ring several more times. We notice that the permit for the elevator expired in the summer of 2007. We try the ancient rotary dial emergency phone without a dial tone. Nothing. Good thing I had my handy iphone with me. Google: San Ramon Community Center. Phone number appears.

Operator: Hello, you have reached the San Ramon Community Center. How may I help you?

Britt: Um, yes. I am at the SAN RAMON COMMUNITY CENTER. I am stuck in the elevator. You could help me get out.

Operator: Oh, my. We could hear the bell ringing, but thought it was just kids playing in the elevator. Oh, I am so sorry. We will be right there.

And if a jiffy some nice men pried the door open and set us free.

We took the stairs down.